Thermogenerator and pilot burner assembly



P 1952 v. WEBER ETAL 2,610,984

THERMO-GENERATOR AND PILOT BURNER ASSEMBLY 1 Filed Aug. 21, 1948 INVENTORS.

VIcroR WEBER c%' BY 14 mm 6? KUNZLEE their 19 T'TOR/VE Y Patented Sept. 16, 1952 I a I a 7 2,610,984

THERMOGENERATOR AND PILOT BURNER,

ASSEMBLY Victor Weber and William S. KunzlerfGreensburg, Pa., assignors to Robertshaw-Fulton Controls Company, Youngwood, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application August 21,1948, Serial 45,446

This invention relates to automatic pilot burner devices comprising a gas pilot burner which heats a thermoelectric element assembled in a common mounting bracket.

An object of the invention is to facilitate assembly of the pilot burner and thermal element in correct relative positions without special skill or theuse of special tools or other equipment.

Another objector the invention is to render the pilotburner component readily available for use with different types of gaseous fuel. 7

Another object of the invention is to simplify the manufacturing operations and the cost of producing the pilot burner component.

Another object of the invention is to permit selective removal ofeither the pilot burner or the thermoelectric element from the common mounting bracket without interference with the other. v

Another object of the invention is to eliminate flash back ignition of the pilot burner component,

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: a

Fig. l is a front elevation of the automatic pilot burner device.

Fig. 2 is a side-elevation partly the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a. section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2 andy; Q

(Fig. 4 isa plan view of the pilot burner device.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the automatic pilot burner device is shown as comprising a pilot burner component I and a thermoelectric element l2 adapted to be mounted in substantially parallel relation on a bracket l 4. The bracket [4 is provided with a pair of apertures l-B by which it may be mounted upon a in section of main burner (not shown) and the pilot burner component In :is adapted to both heat and thermocouple t2 and also ignite the main burner as will hereinafter be apparent. a

The pilot burner component l0 includes a tubular body element") having a Venturi portion 20 intermediate its ends as is customary in such constructions. The smaller end of the Venturi portion 20 communicates with a threaded recess 22 formed in the tubular body element l8 for the reception of an extension tube 24 which is suitably threaded at one end for this purpose. The opposite end of the extension 24 is likewise threaded for the reception of a hollow burner tip 26 having an axial port 28 and a communicating lateral port 30.

3 Claims. (C1; 136-4) As previously indicated, the tubular body element 18 including the extension portion 24 is adapted to convey a gas-air mixture to the burner tip 26 for the production of a flame at the ports 28 and 30-. When the deviceis properly positioned on a range or other fuel burning device, the flame issuing from theport 2B is adapted to ignite a main burner while the flame at the port 3!] is adapted-to heat the hot junction of the thermoelectric *element I2.' The tubular body element [8 is provided with an internal enlargement 32 therein which communicates at one end with the larger end of the Venturi portion 20 and hasat the opposite end an enlarged opening 32 provided with an annular recess 34 and a plurality of ports 36 extending laterally through the wall ofthe tubular element I8 adjacent'the recess 34.

A spud 38 of substantially cylindrical form and 'having an axial gas passage therethrough is positioned in the recess 34 in closely fitting relationship therewith. A reduced end 40 is formed on the spud 38 and provides a shoulder 42 intermediate the ends thereof which is adapted to be seated against the bottom of the recess 34. The reduced end 4|] is spaced from the inner wall of the enlarged opening 32 to form an annular passage opposite the ports 36 through which primary air is adapted to enter the tubular element 18.- I

The axial passage in the spud 38 is provided with a restricted outlet opening which departs from the conventional form. In this embodiment, the spud 38 is provided with a cup-shaped element 44 of sheetmaterial forming a cap for the reduced end 40 and having a restricted orifice 46 of desired size formed therein. The orifice cap 44 can be made of a disc of any suitable material and preferablyfis of non-corrosive metal, such as stainless steel. It will be apparent that such caps 44 are readily manufactured and can be replaced on the spud 38 with ease. Moreover, the spud 38 can be made of less expensive mate rial without sacrificing the advantages of noncorro sive material at the orifice proper.

The outer wall of the tubular element l8 opposite the recess 34 is threaded for the reception of adjustable means for retaining the spud 38 in position. As shown, this adjustable means takes the form of a hollow threaded member or nut 48 having an internal shoulder 50 engageable with the end face of the spud 33 for the purpose described. In addition the nut 48 is provided with connecting means in the: form of a hollow threaded end 52 for connection with a pilot supply pipe 54 for a source of s pp y- As'shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the;

best described as substantially .of heart-shapedi f-orm. Suchsh-apeprovides a V notch 60 in each of the 'apertures58 and within-which the tubular type thermoelectric element-1'2 :is adapted :tDllb'B V "secured. Such securing meanjS-takesth'e form.

of a threaded element or set screw 62 Which ex- 4 ing the nut 48 to provide access to the interior of the tubular element [8. Due to the arrangement shown, either the pilot burner component [0 or the thermoelectric element l2 can be removed separately from the bracket [4 without ,interferencewith the other; Moreover, 'the primary air intake at the ports 36 :does not require adjustment and, due to the arrangement described and shown herein, there is no opportunity for the pilot flame to be ignited at the orifice through the air intake.

"It'will be apparent that many changes may 1xbe made inc-the details of construction and ar tends through'the hooked endnof the bracket l4 1 intermediate the apertures 58 therein and transversely of the thermoelectric element [2 when in position. The peripheryioi the set-screw 62 overlies the thermoelectric-element {2 in proximate relation. Dueto thisVconstruction", the thermonotch til untilthe. :set screw 62 :is 1 withdrawn iron). its overlying engagement. ,y

The bracket is provided with a thirdaaperture'flginspacedrelation to the apertures- 5 8 and for :the reception "of the tubularv body *element l8 -of,the pilot-burner component H1. in order that thisi'component may ;be:--secured- .in

position on the bracket 1-4; the {tubular body ele men-t 4 8- is provided;;vvith ea polygonal portion 66 intermediate its ends and havingan end-face fiq whichis adapted to seat within a complemental polygonal recess 168- formed in the underside of the'bracketi substantially concentric with the aperturer l. Securing :means for the pilot burner component takes the form of a threaded portion JOIorrned-on the tubular element l8: beyond the polygonal'cportion '66 and having a locknut "l2 thereon-engaging with the surface-- of 'the bracket 142R)!" retaining theend" facefi'l -seated= in the recess -68. g 7 i The thermoelectric element' I2- can readily be assembled in the bracket 14 by inserting theportion having the v annular collars -59 thereon through the-lower aperture 5 8 and then by a lateral movement positioning the cylindrical portion in the V notch .--60.. The collars 59 being both within the hooked end 56-serve to prevent axial-movementof theelement L2,. .The set-screw Sloan then be adjusted to secure the thermoelectric; element 12 .in-:such position. The assembly: of the pilot'burner. component I-0 is likewise easily carriedout by removal of the lock nut 12 and insertion of the component through theaperturefit from the underside until-engagement-of the polygonal portion-B6 with the recess 68occurs. --Replacement of the lock nut 12 will serve .to retain the pilot burner component .in fixed rposition and no adjustment is needed to insure-heating of the hot junction of the thermoelectric element-4:2 bya flame producedat the lateral port .3Elof the burner tip 26.

I It will be .apparent'that the. spud 38. can readily be replaced when desired by merelyremov- ,rangementof .parts without departing from the ::scope of :the invention as defined in the ap-' pended claims.

'We claim:

1."In an automatic pilot burner device, the combination of a tubular element adapted to convey a gas-air mixture therethrough, a burner tip carried at one end of-isaid element andmaving. ortf-atwhich said mixture-is adapted produce .a ,flame, -a thermoelectric ele nent adapted to be positionedsin thetpath of said flame. to be heated rthereby,.;-a ibracket, having a plurality-of apertures therein-anda hooked end v containing; .pair of said= -:apertures r spaced in substantialalignment, .one of said elements being .adaptedLtoLproj ect through; one of saidrapertures and; the other said. element being adapted, to project tlirough-saidpair of 'apertures,;;means engageable .withz-saidbracket for: securing said one element insaid'ione.apenture,.abutnient carried by =.said other element, said .abutznent means being .adaptedtopass ==throughlatnleast onev .of .said pa'iri bf said: apertures, cngageablefwithsaid bracket .for displacing other (element transversely of themaxis of said pair 0i apertures to position said abutment means to be. engageable. WiththeinternaI faces ofssaid hooked end, .1 1' r a An automaticpilot burner deviceas claimed in claimjl wherein said last named means .come prises. a member. n'a'ovablel tangentially of .said other element. 1 I I 3., An automatic pilotburnerdevice as claimed in claim' 2 wherein said membericompriseslaset screwthreaded in said bracket andiarrangedto make peripheral. contactswithfthe peripheryiof V said-otherelement.

" VICTOR'WEBER. s

WI L S; niii EieENoEs-"oLr-en f; I The following? references are of: record zain the file-of thisrpatentz- 1 "UNiTn s r Es-rATENTe v :Date 

